Tea growers cry for government attention in Kishanganj

PATNA: Though not a big name on the country’s tea map, it is a fact that good quality of black tea is produced in Kishanganj district. In fact, around 20,000 tonne of tea is produced in this region of the state annually.
The locals, however, are angry with the government for ignoring the potential of tea plantation in Kishanganj. The government’s alleged neglect may well play in the minds of the locals when they will exercise their franchise in the second phase of Lok Sabha polls on April 18.
The two blocks of Kishanganj – Pothia and Thakurganj – are doing exceptionally well in tea plantation, thanks to favourable soil quality and drainage system in the area. Not only Kishanganj, Tea Board of India has also declared Purnia, Katihar and Araria as suitable locations for tea plantation. These three constituencies in the Seemanchal region will also go to the polls on April 18.
“When we think of tea plantation, hilly terrains come to our mind. Tea does not necessarily mean Darjeeling hills. That’s Bollywood impact. The weather is comparatively cooler in Kishanganj as it is close to Darjeeling and water is also drained out properly here. Thus, the climate here is very much similar to tea-producing places like Darjeeling and Siliguri,” said Manish Daftari, whose family owns one of the biggest tea estates and a processing unit in Kishanganj.
Manish said his father Raj Karan Daftari was the man who brought tea plantation to Kishanganj. Originally into garment trade, Raj experimented with tea business in 1992 despite being warned of failure by his family members and friends. Luck was by Raj’s side and his new business cleared the path for others to venture into it.
“The tea plantation in Kishanganj is now spread over an area of 50,000 acres of land, giving livelihood to more than 1,000 people,” Raj said.
Though there are just nine tea processing units in Kishanganj, the production is much higher, enabling producers to sell their produce in the neighbouring West Bengal as well.
Manish said as per the norms of Tea Board of India, 60% of the rate at which processed tea is sold has to be given to the producer. “However, only 22% of the processed tea remains usable and calculation for returns to the producer is done on the usable product only,” he added.
Tea producers, however, rued that the norm was not followed, thereby compelling them to sell their produce at lower rates. Tanweer Alam, who owns a tea plantation in Belua panchayat, 10km away from Kishanganj town, said he could earn an annual profit of just Rs 3 lakh. Alam blamed the “indifferent” attitude of the government for the plight of the tea producers.
“The major chunk of profit is enjoyed by the middlemen who sell packaged tea. These people earn a profit of around Rs 25 by selling 1kg of tea against Rs10 per kg profit earned by the tea producers.” said Raj.
State Congress leader Minnat Rahmani, who hails from Kishanganj, said land encroachment was another big issue in the area. “Whatever the tea producers have achieved in the region is because of their own efforts. The government does not provide any help to these tea producers,” he added.
Local activist Manzar Alam too held the government responsible for the plight of the tea growers in the region. “The whole business runs through neighbouring West Bengal as the response of our government is quite lukewarm,” he added.
The tea producers TOI talked to sought their representation in Tea Board of India and government’s intervention in regulating the price.
The tea garden workers, all locals, get just Rs 2.50 per kg for plucking leaves. Their daily wage, thus, does not exceed Rs 200. Hasnain Alam, manager of a tea estate in the region, said procuring chemicals was also a challenge and they were largely dependent on West Bengal for this purpose.
“We constructed the approach road to the tea estate on our own. Though political leaders make big promises during elections, they don’t stand by their words,” said Mobeen Hasan, a resident of Pothia.